Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Op-ed #9

Do you have the courage to be great?

Fact:

You know about greatness but real greatness takes courage.

Discussion:

You have read all about greatness.  You already know that it takes an incredible work ethic and that super positive attitude to be great. You know about the long practice hours and the staying late and coming in early required for greatness.

You have your dreams and you have set your goals.  You know all about grit and the persistence needed to achieve your goals.  Resiliency has become your middle name.

You have worked hard at maintaining your laser like focus.  You have developed the ability to tune out distractions.

You know all about practice.  Yes, I mean practicing your weaknesses, not practicing your strengths, for that is easy and enjoyable.

And yes, current research tells us that natural talent is not all that important to be great.

So, what message do I want to leave with you today?  What personal quality might separate you from the rest of the pack? 

That quality might just be courage. Do you have the courage to be great?

Drew Brees, the future Hall of Fame quarterback from the New Orleans Saints recently said that being great is lonely.  Yes, it is.  And this one quality is what may separate you from the pack.  In the work environment, do you have the courage to be an individual? Do you have the courage to stand alone when others just fall into line?  Do you have the courage and conviction to be that one last person holding on to an idea or principle?   Do you have the courage to do the right thing?  Do you have the courage to go for the win where others might be happy with the tie? Do you have the courage to ignore the naysayers?  Can you ignore those that are the malcontents in your organization?  You know the ones that hang out in the faculty room and do nothing but bitch and complain. 

It is so easy to fall in with the pack.  As a former school principal, I have seen this time and time again with many teachers.  I saw many teachers with the potential for greatness falling in line with the masses.  As a school superintendent I have seen the same things happen to principals and other administrators; my school leaders.  They too seem to have that propensity to join the clique of mediocrity.  They too seem to have trouble at times standing on their own.  It takes a great deal of maturity to be able to stand on your own in the face of your peers. The courage to be great.  Do you have this courage?  I hope so.